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Chapter 51
The Grand Duke is acting strange.
He hardly ever makes eye contact with me.
Even when I speak to him, he only gives short, curt answers.
But he’s not completely avoiding me. Whenever I look elsewhere or eat, his gaze sneaks over like a thief. Yet the moment I turn my eyes toward him, it immediately drops. Pretending he wasn’t looking at all from the start—it’s not even funny.
Seeing him come down to the dining hall every morning like this…
It doesn’t seem like he’s trying to avoid me entirely.
“Grand Duke, is something wrong?”
“…Nothing.”
He only answered after taking a sip of water.
Today, he came out neatly, even with a lace cravat. His hair looked carefully styled too.
He looks impressive, but all his movements and expressions are awkward. It’s as if someone is controlling each joint of his body with strings like a marionette.
I think the change in him started during the bath earlier.
“Did I make a mistake during the bath or something?”
“No.”
“Grand Duke, do you know? For over a week, your answers have been only ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’”
I ended up pointing it out.
I thought we had become slightly closer after what happened on the rooftop that rainy day. If people grow closer, they should be able to communicate naturally, but I guess that theory doesn’t apply to the Grand Duke.
“…Did I?”
“Am I coming down for breakfast without realizing it? I’m busy, but I made time just to see your face.”
“That’s not possible. I also… wanted to see your face.”
He trailed off mid-sentence.
Still, he wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Don’t lie. You barely look at my face. Did I really say something wrong?”
“No.”
“I admit I might have said something a bit dangerous. But what I’m trying to do won’t harm you. I can promise that.”
I meant I wanted to accelerate Crown Prince Daimon’s downfall.
That was true. But I had no intention of dragging him into something even I hesitated to intervene in.
“It doesn’t matter.”
He seemed to add softly, “Even if it does.”
His gaze still rested on the table.
What a difficult person to talk to. I suppose it’s time to ask directly why he’s acting like this.
“Grand Duke, you never tell anyone your worries, do you?”
After a long pause, he simply nodded once.
I thought so.
Even toward Sir Kirill, who follows him like a little dog, he’s blunt. I’d heard they’d become quite close serving together in the knights, though of course that closeness seems mostly one-sided.
Being around others makes it clear—he’s not the type to let people get close.
“Then I’ll carefully try to guess your feelings.”
“Guess?”
“There are only two reasons a man would keep coming to see me, but avoid my eyes and barely speak.”
“…Yes.”
He picked up his glass of water again.
Seeing him gulp down the last of it, I could tell he was already nervous.
“Either he likes me.”
Gulp.
He coughed once, covering his mouth with a napkin while his shoulders shook.
“What is it, Grand Duke? Did I guess right? You like me?”
“Not that. The second possibility.”
He settled his coughing and composed his mouth before speaking.
So the first possibility is likely out.
“If you don’t like me, you must be hiding something huge. Committed a crime, or been unfaithful?”
“A crime, unfaithfulness. Neither.”
Finally, he lifted his gaze to look at me.
The tight set of his jaw suggested he was clenching his teeth.
He must feel wronged being accused blindly. Either way, my little provocation seems to have worked.
“Then I guess you are hiding something.”
“…No.”
“Your answer’s very slow.”
“I said no.”
With a deep, long sigh, he put down his fork and knife.
Beneath his sharp nose, his lips were tightly pressed, stubbornly set.
If you could weigh just those lips, I’m sure they’d be heavier than a ton.
Why would someone so young be like this? He seemed like a person carrying unspoken, weighty stories in his heart.
Maybe he misunderstood something I said before. I had mentioned I dislike hidden secrets. Perhaps that became a burden.
“Grand Duke. You don’t have to reveal everything at once. I won’t try to pry until you want to tell me. Keep it safe, and later, you can casually mention only what’s important.”
He stared at me. His violet eyes shone like a dewy iris, pure and clear.
Somehow, we finished the meal.
As the servants cleared the dishes and brought out tea, the steward knocked and entered.
He glanced at David’s side before addressing me.
“Lady Viscountess, Second Lieutenant Mikel Dias is here. I’ve had him brought to the reception room.”
“Bring him to the office.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll get up first, then.”
I smiled at the Grand Duke as I stood, waving my hand.
He silently watched the silver-gray ribbon around my wrist, then slowly rose from his seat.
“Shall we go together, Grand Duchess?”
“Together? Where?”
Without answering, he approached with a very determined aura and extended his arm.
“Where you’re going.”
Like a general heading into battle, he wore a solemn expression. How should I handle a man who escorts me with such gravity just to the office?
The deliberate gaze, the stiff tone with a hint of Dvorcan accent…
Is it because he’s too handsome? He seemed clumsy in building relational foundations.
Still, his effort was quite endearing.
Suppressing a smile threatening to escape, I placed my hand on his arm.
“Alright. Let’s go together.”
Holding the Grand Duke’s firm arm, I ascended the stairs.
Soon, we arrived in front of the office.
Naturally, I expected him to leave after seeing me to the door. He likely had morning appointments too.
Yet, he stood there with my arm hooked into his side.
“…Grand Duke, why aren’t you leaving?”
“I wanted to see you too, Second Lieutenant Mikel Dias.”
“You know Mikel?”
“Presumably a close friend of yours. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have sent him to the office instead of the reception room.”
“Yes, he is a close friend.”
“If it’s not impolite, I would like to properly meet him today.”
“…Alright.”
Unexpected.
I thought the Grand Duke had no social skills whatsoever.
Is he genuinely intending to interact with my friend?
Still, I wasn’t certain. I wasn’t sure how Mikel, still obsessed with government talk, would respond to this man.
A little nervous, but at least he wouldn’t be rude in front of me.
The Grand Duke stepped forward and opened the door first.
Through the gap…
Mikel stood with a wide grin, arms outstretched.
He probably intended to hug me as soon as I came in. But the first thing he noticed wasn’t me—it was the Grand Duke.
Frozen like a statue in his outstretched pose, Mikel remained motionless.
Then what happened next left me agape.
The Grand Duke grabbed Mikel in a firm hug. He even patted his back with considerable force, enough to make a solid thump.
“Thank you for welcoming me so warmly upon our first meeting.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Mikel, caught off guard in the stranger’s embrace, answered awkwardly. He shaped his mouth over the Grand Duke’s shoulder to silently ask me:
‘Why is this man here?’
I smiled slightly and shrugged.
Watching the two strong men hug was… an odd feeling. I had never seen the Grand Duke show such friendliness to anyone before.
After a not-short hug, they finally released.
Mikel, dazed as if he’d been hit in the forehead with a club, collected himself and saluted the Grand Duke.
“Reporting in, Second Lieutenant Mikel Dias.”
Still looking flustered, Mikel brought his fingertips to his eyebrows. It was a salute devoid of discipline. The Grand Duke didn’t react.
I thought the “reporting in” greeting was inappropriate for the Grand Duke. That salute had led him to lose his country and be sold to this place.
“The Grand Duke of Dvorca, David Mihail.”
Introducing himself, the Grand Duke extended his right hand to Mikel.
Mikel, still unsure, shook it.
The Grand Duke gripped Mikel’s hand as if holding a sword hilt and shook it firmly. Mikel’s face scrunched. The grip was quite strong.
Mikel didn’t yield and held the Grand Duke’s hand tightly. The Grand Duke remained unmoved.
…What is this strange tension?
